Susan Heck Shackelford, 72, of New Philadelphia, died Tuesday, November 2, 2021, in Aultman Hospital at Canton following an apparent heart attack.
Born in Carey, Ohio on December 16, 1948, she was the daughter of the late Robert Earl and Martha “Grace” (Firestine) Heck.
After graduating from Carey High School in 1966, Sue continued her formal education at Wittenberg where she met and fell in love with the late Robert “Shack” Shackelford. They wed in Weaver Chapel on the campus on September 5, 1970 and enjoyed 40 years of marriage prior to Shack’s passing. Sue graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Sociology and was a member of the Chi Omega sorority.
She had a passion and a heart for serving others as evident in her career as a social worker and community volunteer. Sue was employed for Tuscarawas County Council for Church & Community (T-4-C), an organization that addresses humanitarian needs such as poverty and housing that are otherwise not met. Then, she shared her gifts for more than 20 years with HARCATUS Head Start where she served as the disabilities, prevention, and mental health manager. Sue passionately worked to provide families and children resources and services to help with poverty.
Sue also served as a dedicated volunteer with many local organizations and her church, Emmanuel Lutheran Church, where she formerly served on Church Council. She was honored with the 27th Robert E. Torgler Award, an award given yearly to a resident of the Tuscarawas or Carroll counties for exception contributions and involvement in mental health and human services.
Most importantly, Sue was a devoted wife, mother, and grandmother, loving passionately and encouraging endlessly. She treasured family vacations snow skiing or in the sun at Florida, but most importantly, loved being her children’s greatest cheerleader and advocate. She will also be remembered as an avid cook.
In addition to her management position with HARCATUS, Sue was the majority owner of Quickprint Center, LLC, where she served in an active role in generating ideas for the company’s success.
She is survived by her sons, Robert Cade Shackelford, Jay Brandon Shackelford, and Todd Alan Shackelford; her granddaughter, Aubrey Shackelford; her siblings, Anne (Larry) Kresser and James (Jane) Heck, both of Findlay; a sister-in-law, Sharon Shackelford of Westerville; and her nephews and nieces, John (Kristin) Newsome and their children Johnathon, Ally, and Brittany, Kristin (Kaveh) Sajadi and their children Sarah and William, Dawn (Dustin) Dickerson and their son Austin, and Chad and Jayme Kresser.
Visitation will be held from 10 to 11 a.m. in the Emmanuel Lutheran Church with a memorial service beginning at 11 a.m. in the church, on Friday, November 12, 2021.
The family suggests memorial contributions in Sue’s name be directed to Emmanuel Lutheran Church, 202 East High Ave., New Philadelphia, OH 44663 or HARCATUS Head Start, 225 Fair Ave NE, New Philadelphia.
Linn-Hert-Geib Funeral Home & Crematory
116 Second Street NE, New Philadelphia, Ohio 44663
www.geibfuneral.com
Geib Funeral Service
5600 North Wooster Avenue, Dover, Ohio 44622
Geib Pet Crematory
5600 North Wooster Avenue, Dover, Ohio 44622